The Federal Government’s looming withdrawal from a vital remote Indigenous housing funding program has prompted the LGAQ to engage in a comprehensive and hard-fought campaign with its member councils.
What did we do?
Background: In December, the WA, South Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory state governments questioned the future of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Housing, with no replacement announced by the Turnbull Government (although the PM alluded to a renegotiation in question time on Thursday).
In January, the LGAQ activated its #DontWalkAway campaign in the lead-up to COAG.
Direct appeal: LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam wrote to all members of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, as well as to all Queensland State MPs and Federal MPs and Senators outlining the ramifications of cutting the funding.
Delegation heads to Canberra: We coordinated nine indigenous councils and 13 representatives to head to Canberra to ask the Prime Minister to not walk away from overcrowding in discrete communities.
Meeting after meeting: Our delegation held 19 meetings with MPs and senators, including Warren Entsch MP, Senator Patrick Dodson and Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion.
What did we achieve?
Question time: A meeting with the LGAQ mayoral delegation prompted Federal Member for Herbert, Cathy O’Toole and Bob Katter to ask about the future of funding for indigenous housing. Linda Burney, Pat Dodson and Milton Dick also raised the issue on the floor of parliament.
Social media noise: 47 thousand people were reached via the LGAQ campaign hashtag #DontWalkAway on Twitter. Another 38 thousand people were reached on Facebook via targeted campaigning.
Media coverage:
Torres Shire Council Vonda Malone tells National Indigenous radio how housing is fundamental to closing the gap. ABC publish article 'Indigenous housing funding under threat as people wait years for homes.'
There was also extensive coverage of the issue in today's edition of the Australian.
Learn more about the issue
We were live blogging throughout the entire campaign. Learn more about why this funding is so important to councils and job generation in our remote indigenous communities here.
LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam discusses what’s next in this long-running battle in his weekly CEO column.